Best Time to Fly RDU to ATL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Raleigh-Durham International → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
4,630 flights were scheduled from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL) in the last 12 months, and 87.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 9.4 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 90.7%, while Frontier Airlines trailed at 74.8%.
September has been the best month (91% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (80%).
1.6% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
RDU to ATL on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 90.7% | 70 min | 0.9% | 216 |
| Delta Air Lines | 88.8% | 84 min | 1.5% | 3,802 |
| Frontier Airlines | 74.8% | 106 min | 2.3% | 612 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly RDU to ATL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,256 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 95.2% | 1.3% | 766 |
| 6am–7am | 89.5% | 2.5% | 1,215 |
| 7am–8am | 88.1% | 0.3% | 685 |
| 8am–9am | 88.6% | 1.2% | 496 |
| 9am–10am | 93.8% | 1.1% | 456 |
| 10am–11am | 94.0% | 1.5% | 271 |
| 11am–12pm | 91.9% | 1.1% | 761 |
| 12pm–1pm | 83.1% | 1.0% | 934 |
| 1pm–2pm | 86.2% | 1.9% | 369 |
| 2pm–3pm | 87.6% | 0.8% | 367 |
| 3pm–4pm | 83.1% | 0.3% | 603 |
| 4pm–5pm | 78.1% | 1.7% | 294 |
| 5pm–6pm | 80.0% | 1.5% | 681 |
| 6pm–7pm | 75.3% | 0.5% | 665 |
| 7pm–8pm | 75.6% | 1.6% | 434 |
| 8pm–9pm | 73.0% | 1.1% | 191 |
| 9pm–10pm | 75.0% | 2.4% | 41 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 27 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on RDU to ATL
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 81.1% | -6.1 pts | 0.5% | 186 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 86.1% | -1.0 pts | 1.4% | 358 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 80.6% | -6.6 pts | 1.4% | 1,622 |
| All other days | 87.2% | — | 1.2% | 7,090 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).